Philox plant named `Shortwood`

ABSTRACT

A distinctive cultivar of Phlox plant named `Shortwood`, characterized by its medium pink flower color with a dark hot pink center &#34;eye&#34;; resistance to Powdery Mildew; and long flowering period.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox,botanically known as Phlox paniculata, and hereinafter referred to bythe cultivar name `Shortwood`.

The new cultivar was selected by the inventor from seedling progeny froma cross of the Phlox paniculata cultivar `Eva Cullem` (not patented) asthe male or pollen parent with the Phlox paniculata cultivar `David`(not patented) as the female or seed parent. The new cultivar wasselected by the inventor at his nursey in Coatesville, Penna. from theseseedlings.

In side-by-side comparisons in Coatesville, Penna., under commercialpractice, plants of the new Phlox are different from plants of the maleparent, the cultivar `Eva Cullem` in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Phlox are more resistant to Powdery Mildew thanplants of the cultivar `Eva Cullem`.

2. Plants of the new Phlox are taller than plants of the cultivar `EvaCullem`.

3. Plants of the new Phlox have smaller flowers, but are more freelyflowering and flower for a longer period of time than plants of thecultivar `Eva Cullem`.

4. Flowers of plants of the new Phlox are more fragrant than flowers ofplants of the cultivar `Eva Cullem`.

In addition to flower color, plants of the new Phlox differ from plantsof the female parent, the cultivar `David`, in the followingcharacteristics:

1. Plant of the new Phlox are more freely branching than plants of thecultivar `David`.

2. Plants of the new Phlox flower for a longer period of time thanplants of the cultivar `David`.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by tip cuttings taken atCoatesville, Penna., has shown that the unique features of this newPhlox plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of `Shortwood`. These characteristics incombination distinguish the new Phlox plant as a new and distinctcultivar:

1. Medium pink flower color with a dark hot pink center "eye".

2. Resistance to Powdery Mildew.

3. Long flowering period, summer through fall.

The new Phlox plant has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly withvariations in environment such as temperature, light level, nutritionand water status without, however, any variance in genotype.

The accompanying colored photographs illustrates the overall appearanceof the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The first photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typicalplant of `Shortwood`.

The second photograph comprises a close-up view of a typical flower of`Shortwood`.

Flower and foliage colors in the photographs may appear different fromthe actual colors due to light reflectance.

The following observations, measurements, values, and comparisonsdewcribe plants grown in Coatesville, Penna., in 1-gallon containers.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Classification:

Botanical.--Phlox paniculata cultivar `Shortwood`.

Parentage:

Male or pollen parent.--Phlox paniculata cv. `Eva Cullem` (notpatented).

Female or seed parent.--Phlox paniculata cv. `David` (not patented).

Propagation:

Type.--By tip cuttings.

Time to develop roots.--Summer: 28 days at temperatures of 21° C.Winter: 40 days at temperatures of 20° C.

Rooting habit.--Vigorous, fibrous, and well-branched.

Plant description:

Plant form and growth habit.--Perennial, upright with lateral branches.

Vigor.--Moderate to vigorous.

Branching habit.--Freely branching.

Height, soil level to top of flowers.--75 to 90 cm.

Stem description.--Diameter: About 4 mm. Internode length: About 2.5 cm.Color: 146B. Texture: Glabrous.

Foliage description:

Arrangement.--Opposite, single.

Leaf size, largest leaves.--Length: About 13 cm. Width: About 4 cm.

Leaf shape.--Linear, lanceolate.

Leaf apex.--Acuminate.

Leaf base.--Truncate.

Margin type.--Entire, undulating.

Texture.--Smooth, glabrous.

Color.--Young foliage, adaxial surface: Darker than 146A. Young foliage,abaxial surface: 147B. Mature foliage, adaxial surface: Darker than146A. Mature foliage, abaxial surface: 147B. Venation, adaxial surface:146A. Venation, abaxial surface: 146B.

Petiole.--Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm. Color: 146C.

Durability of foliage to stress.--Good.

Flower description:

Natural flowering season.--Summer through fall, usually in the NorthernHemisphere, from July through October.

Flower arrangement.--Flowers arranged in panicles with usually sixflowers forming at every axil, flowers face upward and outward. Freelyflowering.

Flower appearance.--Trumpet with fused corolla with five that petals.Medium pink petals with dark hot pink center "eye". Not persistent,self-cleaning.

Fragrance.--Sweet.

Flower diameter.--About 2.75 cm.

Flower depth (height).--About 2.5 cm.

Flower bud.--Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Shape: Ovoid.Color: 75A/77C.

Petals.--Appearance: Satiny. Texture: Smooth. Arrangement: Trumpet withfive petals fused into a corolla tube. Shape: Rounded. Margin: Entire.Surface: Usually flat, edges may be slightly curved upwards. Size:Length: About 1.3 cm. Width: About 1.2 cm. Color: When opening, adaxialsurface: 77B. When opening, adaxial surface: 75A. Fully opened, adaxialsurface: Darker than 75A with overtones of 77B and streaks of white.Base, 57A, forming a dark hot pink center "eye". Fully opened, abaxialsurface: Darker than 75A with overtones of 77B and streaks of white.Throat (inside surface): 75A. Tube (outside surface): 75A. Petal colorfading to: 75B.

Sepals/calyx.--Appearance: Five sepals fused into a narrow calyx tube.Sepal texture: Thin, smooth. Sepal shape: Linear. Sepal apex: Verypointed. Sepal color: 146B. Calyx length: About 8 mm. Calyx diameter:About 2 mm.

Peduncles.--Length: About 5 mm. Angle: Straight. Strength: Strong.Color: 146B with red overtones.

Reproductive organs.--Androecium: Stamen number: Five. Anther shape:Narrowly oblong. Anther size: About 2 mm. Amount of pollen: Moderate.Pollen color: 5D. Gynoecium: Pistil number: One. Pistil length: About1.7 cm. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: Whitish green. Stylelength: About 1.5 cm. Style color: Whitish green. Ovary color: Green,144A.

Disease resistance: Under commercial conditions, good resistance toPowdery Mildew has been observed.

Seed production: Seed production is rarely observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Phlox plant named `Shortwood`, asillustrated and described.